AgensysActionAlert

KEY MEETING FOR AGENSYS BIKE PATH ON WEDNESDAY!

Planning Commission meeting

• Wednesday, September 1, 7PM

City Council – first vote

• Tuesday, September 14 – time will be posted later

City Council – final vote

• Tuesday, September 28th  time will be posted later

All meetings held at:

Santa Monica City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2nd floor

SM Civic Center, 1685 Main St, Santa Monica

The very important vote by the Planning Commission on the Agensys project will be this Wednesday.  We we would like them to approve it with the condition that it include a bike path within the parcel.  City Council and the Planning Commission have previously directed city staff to work with Agensys to include a bike path as part of the project.  Agensys has ruled out any proposals for putting the bike path on the site, saying it poses too many difficulties.  Senior city staff seem unwilling to push any harder for this key benefit.  It appears Agensys believes they are offering enough and that they have the votes within the City Council to receive final approval later this month.

We have demonstrated and believe there are clearly ways to include a bike path within the project and must convince council of this.  Promising alternatives have been identified for integrating the bike path and deserve to be explored further.  On Wednesday we need the Planning Commission to support this.  For more information see the complete Agensys article written by Barbara Filet and Kent Strumpell on the Santa Monica Spoke website.

There must be a strong showing from the bicycle community at the Wednesday meeting demonstrating support for a viable solution and to overcome the reluctance by Agensys for a bike path within their project along with the city’s reluctance to push this important issue.

PLEASE COME, speak if you can.

We also need you to send an emails (email address below) or you use this link ActionAlert-Agensys@SMSpoke.org (Copy/ paste is currently not working for this address) which will forward to city staff, city council and planning commission.

Some key points you can make:

• I support the proposed Agensys bike path.
• This bike path provides a vital link to bridge the gap in our east-west bikeway network and help connect communities near the project.
• Other routes for getting around this project are difficult, hazardous and discourage safe cycling.
• This is the first test of the bicycle and connectivity goals called for in the LUCE (Land Use and Circulation Element) plan that we all worked so hard to create.
• Leaving the bicycle connectivity out of the development agreement will set a precedent that will tell future developers they don’t have to take LUCE policies seriously.
• The other community benefits offered by Agensys are wonderful, but bike access is a vital and needed component to the Agensys project.

Thank you in advance for your support in making Santa Monica a better place to live and bike.

Cynthia Rose

Santa Monica Spoke, chapter LACBC

Steering Committee

We have also provided a letter you can copy and paste voicing your support.  Feel free to edit as you wish.

Use this link:  ActionAlert-Agensys@SMSpoke.org (do not copy/paste this address)

or use individual address that follow below.

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Dear City Staff, Council, and Planning Commission

I am writing you in support of the proposed bike path and bicycle infrastructure proposed with the Agensys project.  This bicycle infrastructure would provide a vital link by bridging the gap in our east-west bikeway network and helps connect communities in and around the project.  This is the first real test of the LUCE commitment to active transportation that we have all worked so hard to create and cannot be taken lightly.  Leaving bicycle connectivity of some sort out of the development agreement at this time sends a message to future developers that they don’t have to take the LUCE policies seriously when the city fails to enforce them at this first juncture.  The Agensys project could not only enhance bicycle connectivity to the Bergamont Rail Station and Village but help reduce the traffic and parking demand in the station and surrounding area.  This will also help reduce pollution helping Santa Monica reach its Sustainable City Goals Plan.  This access will provide safe routes west to SaMoHi, Santa Monica College, Civic Center, Ocean Park and Main Street Merchants, along with travel to and from Ocean Park Beaches from eastern Santa Monica and Los Angeles as well as other neighborhoods to the east.

For Santa Monica to reach the applied for Silver designation or higher from the League of American Bicyclists for a bicycle-friendly city, (from the current Bronze status) the City must be committed to create more bike routes.  With a 50 year lease this proposed redevelopment represents an excellent way for the city to create this vital link in the bicycle infrastructure.

It has been demonstrated and I believe there are clearly ways to include a bike path within this project.  Promising alternatives have also been identified for integrating the bike path or other bike facilities that deserve to be explored further.  I urge the Planning commission to approve the Agensys project with the condition that it include a bike path within the parcel. City staff and council can then work with Agensys to provide this vital link for alternative, active transportation.

The other community benefits offered by Agensys in this project are wonderful, but bike access is a vital and needed component that will help Santa Monica and its residents reach a more sustainable, and livable city moving forward into the future.

Sincerely,

Your name

address and/or zip – optional

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Send emails to:

Santa Monica Planning Commission:  jaypjohnson@earthlink.net, HKoning@KEArch.com, gwynne@pugh-scarpa.com, TedSMPlan@gmail.com, GNewbold@gmail.com, Jim_Ries@hotmail.com, parryj@gte.net,

Planner in charge of project: brad.misner@smgov.net

Santa Monica City Council:  Council@smgov.net

City Manager Rod Gould:  Rod.Gould@smgov.net

Planning Director Eileen Fogarty:  eileen.fogarty@amgov.net

Agensys Lawer Dale Goldsmith: dale@agd-landuse.com